Newark police director defends internal checks on department

Newark's police director is responding to criticism about his department's internal affairs unit.

Garry F. McCarthy cited statistics that show civilian complaints against police in Newark were down 16 percent last year compared to 2007.

ROBERT SCIARRINO/THE STAR-LEDGER.Newark Police Director Garry McCarthy in a Star-Ledger file photo from January 2008.

But the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in New Jersey said the numbers are misleading and may be incorrect. Deborah Jacobs said many cases aren't carried over from one year to the next, effectively lowering the numbers. She said her office has received reports from people who say the complaint process is inefficient.

McCarthy responded today by saying his department has doubled the size of its internal affairs division and is making measurable progress.